The Complete Handicapper: James Quinn

[cj]

Anybody read this? I didn't think anything really new had been written in years but stumbled upon this on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Handicapper-You-Beat-Races-ebook/dp/B00CF1IJ8M

[cj]

I'm starting to think I might already have it. Came out in 2013 so maybe not, but looks familiar.

[Tom]

I've had it for a couple of years or so.

[cj]

I've had it for a couple of years or so.

What did you think of it?

[cj]

Sure enough I have it, but I haven't read it. Think it was a Christmas gift that got tucked away and I forgot about it. I'll read and review soon.

[thaskalos]

Sure enough I have it, but I haven't read it. Think it was a Christmas gift that got tucked away and I forgot about it. I'll read and review soon.
You've read it, and have already provided a review...and so did I. It's somewhere in the archives of this site...but I can't get the search engine to work, for some reason.

[cj]

You've read it, and have already provided a review...and so did I. It's somewhere in the archives of this site...but I can't get the search engine to work, for some reason.


Wow, I am getting old. I did search and couldn't find it either because it really sounded familiar. I'll give it another shot.

[Tom]

I liked it.
I got a few ideas from it.
I like to see how others approach things.

[cj]

I found it. I'll have to read this thread again before I read the book again.

http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=99698

[ReplayRandall]

Thask's review:

http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1449950&postcount=77

Dave Schwartz's review:

http://www.paceadvantage.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1420451&postcount=72

[raybo]

I agree with Dave's statements that the "ideas" are what make the difference between poor works and good works. I'm not the kind of guy that reads handicapping books from cover to cover. I'm the kind of guy that reads portions of books that have been revealed on the internet, and portions of articles, and portions of posts, etc.. Why only portions? Because the "ideas" happen in short statements, not entire articles or chapters in books. I also don't care if the idea is supported by research or not, as often that supporting evidence has been cherry-picked by the author strictly to support his statements. I much prefer to do the research myself, because then I know if there is value there or not.

For example, I read some online stuff by Randy Giles about running styles and early speed points and pace pressure. I didn't read everything, just enough to get the general "idea" behind the approach. Then I did some thinking, created a process for testing some scenarios, and did the testing (after modifying Randy's approach to result in something more concrete, that was less ambiguous). Well, that "idea" and research resulted in my Black Box program. True, much has been added since that first version, but it was the "idea" that started the whole thing, and my own research that led to the additions.

Many times, all we need is an idea, a starting point, and a goal. We don't need all the particulars.

[mrroyboy]

That book is very good for comprehensive handicapping which James Quinn has been writing about for years. Not saying everything in the book is perfect.